IOC chief in India amid Games bid speculation

IOC supremo Thomas Bach began a day-long visit to India on Monday where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid expectations of the country bidding to host the Olympics.

The Indian media is rife with speculation that the Modi government may sanction a bid for the 2024 Summer Games, even if it is only to test the waters.

"Whether India will bid or not will depend on Mr Bach's meeting with the Prime Minister," said Randhir Singh, the country's lone International Olympic Committee member.

Another sports official, who did not want to be named, said an official announcement was unlikely due to the devastation caused by earthquakes in Nepal that have already claimed more than 3,200 lives and left thousands injured.

The Indian Express reported on Monday that the sports ministry had submitted a dossier to the Prime Minister's Office highlighting the pros and cons of hosting the Games.
The dossier projected a budget of between $12 billion to $15 billion, with New Delhi being suggested as the bid city, the paper said quoting unnamed ministry sources.

New Delhi successfully hosted two Asian Games in 1951 and 1982, but the 2010 Commonwealth Games attracted embarrassing headlines due to corruption and delays in construction -- which Modi will be desperate to avoid.

With Tokyo due to host the Games in 2020, Asia is seen as an unlikely venue for the 2024 edition, where Paris, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest are tipped as leading contenders.

The deadline for submitting an interest in the bid is mid-September.

Despite being the world's second most populous nation, India has a poor record in Olympic competition.

Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won gold in 2008 in the 10-metre air rifle, remains the country's only individual champion, while the last of India's eight field hockey titles came back in 1980.

The medal haul from the London Games in 2012 was two silver and four bronze, leaving India 55th in the medal table.

Bach is due Monday to meet Indian Olympic Association officials and attend a lunch hosted by sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal before meeting Modi in the evening.

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Source: AFP